Are bullying rates increasing?

Comparitech analyzed the results of an Ipsos international survey of adults in 28 countries in 2018 that shows bullying and cyberbullying rates are increasing. Parents are becoming more aware of their children’s problems with bullying and cyberbullying. Between 2016 and 2019, school bullying rates have increased 35%, according to the Cyberbullying Research Center. The most recent survey showed that 47.7% of children ages 6 to 10, 56.4% of children ages 11 to 13, and 59.9% of children ages 14 to 18 had experienced bullying. According to the survey, the survey revealed 82% of children state that bullying occurred at school, and 19.2% of bullying was done through social media apps. Cyberbullying and bullying have also been linked to increased suicide rates; for instance, a 2018 study conducted by Swansea University Medical School found that children and young adults under 25 are twice as likely to self-harm or attempt suicide if they have experienced bullying. Comparitech also found that between 2008 and 2015, the number of children admitted to hospital for suicidal ideation or attempted doubled and concluded that much of this increase is linked to the impact of cyberbullying. If you have been experiencing any suicidal thoughts, reach out for help immediately. You can reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

What are the reasons for the increases in bullying? This could be social and economic factors contributing to stress within families, problems with schools and high teacher-to-student ratios, more widespread access to technology, and other factors. A 2018 YouthTruth survey found that middle school students were more likely to be bullied than high school students. Most bullying still happens in person. Higher rates of bullying occur in majority-white schools, and most students are bullied for their appearance. Still, sexual orientation and race were the next most common reasons. Bullying can lead to a variety of other problems, including social, emotional, psychological, and physical distress and problems, as well as anxiety and depressive symptoms, sleep problems, self-harming behaviors and suicide attempts or completion, poor grades in school, trouble learning, increased violence, and substance abuse problems. If you have been experiencing any suicidal thoughts, reach out for help immediately. You can reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Research has also shown the negative impact of bullying can last well beyond childhood into adulthood. For these reasons, it’s important to raise awareness and education to understand, intervene, and stop bullying and cyberbullying.